Greetings all. I'd like to report that I was turned away from the fireworks, concert, etc. in Roanoke, Va. this evening because I was OC.
The event was on public land (a city park), but sponsored by the Landmark corporation (owns The Roanoke Times) in cooperation with the city. The Roanoke Police were very polite, cordial even, but firm in that my weapon was unwelcome. Note that weapons were not among the list of "leave at home" items listed here here , but that is incidental.
The fundamental point in question: When a private entity rents public property, does the leasee bring along their own private property rights or do only the rights of the property owner confer?
Apparently I bothered two Commonwealth's Attorneys on their day off, yet nobody was able to either name a statute or cite a case law which answered this. We reached an impasse where no more information was forthcoming, yet if I proceeded I would be charged with trespassing. I did get a report number and give my contact info to a very helpful and patient Roanoke Police Sgt., but I doubt any further information will be volunteered.
So now what? Does anyone have an idea about how to push this further?
A second question that came up: One of the officers believed that some of the preempted city statutes may have been resurrected somehow. He was thinking of courthouses and the like, and also the k-12 school prohibition (since we were standing on the grounds of a college campus). I think he was just confused, and these were never preempted anyway - have there been any new local ordnances?
Thanks all,
Clint
The event was on public land (a city park), but sponsored by the Landmark corporation (owns The Roanoke Times) in cooperation with the city. The Roanoke Police were very polite, cordial even, but firm in that my weapon was unwelcome. Note that weapons were not among the list of "leave at home" items listed here here , but that is incidental.
The fundamental point in question: When a private entity rents public property, does the leasee bring along their own private property rights or do only the rights of the property owner confer?
Apparently I bothered two Commonwealth's Attorneys on their day off, yet nobody was able to either name a statute or cite a case law which answered this. We reached an impasse where no more information was forthcoming, yet if I proceeded I would be charged with trespassing. I did get a report number and give my contact info to a very helpful and patient Roanoke Police Sgt., but I doubt any further information will be volunteered.
So now what? Does anyone have an idea about how to push this further?
A second question that came up: One of the officers believed that some of the preempted city statutes may have been resurrected somehow. He was thinking of courthouses and the like, and also the k-12 school prohibition (since we were standing on the grounds of a college campus). I think he was just confused, and these were never preempted anyway - have there been any new local ordnances?
Thanks all,
Clint